Book Reviews of No Country for Old Men

Excellent story. Has much violence but does not overly dwell on gory details. Well edited, moves along at a brisk pace. Comes close to a classic good verse evil story.

Basic situation. After drug deal gone bad, likable Llewelyn Moss finds load of cash and decides to keep it - poor decision. Hit man, sociopath and aspiring angel of death, Anton Chigurh - pronounced like sugar - pursues money and Moss with real terminator like relentlessness. Old time Sheriff Ed Tom Bell pursues both hoping to rescue Moss from the evil that follows.


McCarthy does not use quotation marks, I did not find that a problem after I read on for awhile. Expect some typical McCarthy philosophizing (via Sheriff's thoughts and reflections) as well. Recently made into an equally good movie by Coen brothers, who also made FARGO. Movie won Academy Award for Best Picture. Coen Brothers won Best Director and Adapted Screenplay.

F-f-f-f-fantastic!

McCarthy is, hands down, the U.S.'s most important living novelist. Pynchon, Schmynchon. NCFOM is spare and vivid. It's chilling and funny. It's innocent and corrupt.

The story as reviewed by others is just the surface. It's also a story of fathers and sons, regret, futility, and --- in a perverse way --- hopefulness. I loved this book so much, I read it twice back-to-back.

A "good old boy" finds a truck surrounded by dead men and, inside, two million dollars. He takes the money and sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic violence.
A violent, sometimes disturbing book, but a good one with a story that keeps you turning the pages to the end.

The second winner by McCarthy I have read. This is the tale of a drug deal gone awry, a good old boy who takes the money, an assassin, and a local sheriff. The tale is gripping and explosive. The writing style takes some getting used to and sometimes you don't know who is talking but overall it is a great read.

I had seen the movie previously and was awestruck by the entire cast, especially Javier Bardem, portraying the terrifying Anton Chigurh. It was then I knew I must read the book. Yet, I read McCarthy's "The Road" first and was blown away. The man is indeed a genius — his work is dark and quite haunting and will stay with you possibly longer than you'd like.

I was very disappointed in this book. It gripped me with the story but when I tried to read it, the story jumped back and forth between characters without really building them first and I was very confused. The story as it unfolded didn't seem to have much substance because I couldn't get past who was who. I'll rent the movie - maybe that will clear it up.

Layer by layer, McCarthy lays down a rich and intricate tale that pretends to be a crime novel but in fact is a rich testament to the human condition.

Great book- Cormac McCarthy is a master of writing.

I saw the movie and was uncertain about a few events in the movie. Reading the book solved the mysteries. I really enjoyed this book. The writing style is a bit unusual but having seen the movie allowed me to keep up. Good read!

This a gritty depressing action drama. Thye action was believable and the characters well realized.

I think the author was trying to make some social commentary, but it was along the lines of "the world is going to hell in a hand basket". This guy obviously an older man who is out of touch with modern reality.

It was a good read despite this.